The New York Yankees‘ bullpen has become a liability. Again. And this time, Aaron Boone’s mismanagement is front and center in one of the ugliest series losses of the season.
What should’ve been a statement series against the Texas Rangers after getting swept by the Miami Marlins turned into a three-day crash course in how not to handle a closer. Devin Williams’ implosion on back-to-back nights—and Boone’s baffling usage of newly acquired David Bednar—highlighted a growing crisis in New York: The Yankees don’t have a reliable ninth-inning plan, and the manager isn’t helping.
Boone Sticks With Williams—and Pays the Price
Let’s start with Monday.
Leading 4-3 in the ninth, Boone handed the ball to his designated closer, Devin Williams, who promptly served up a game-tying solo shot to Joc Pederson, a hitter batting just .126 at the time. The moment felt like a gut punch. But the stomach-turner came when Jake Bird followed and gave up a walk-off home run, turning a potential win into an 8-5 loss.
That alone would’ve raised eyebrows. But what Boone did next made things worse.
On Tuesday, in a 0-0 game in the eighth, Boone inexplicably turned to Williams again. This time, the All-Star closer coughed up a two-run single to Rowdy Tellez—another light-hitting lefty. The Rangers took a 2-0 lead and held on. It was another loss, another bullpen meltdown, and another unforced error from the dugout.
By Wednesday, with the series already spiraling, Boone finally pivoted. But the pivot made no sense. With a slim 3-2 lead and five outs to go, Boone summoned David Bednar—who pitched before Williams on Monday—and asked him to finish the game in the eighth (5 outs).
Bednar got the job done, but he threw a staggering 42 pitches in the process. In August. On a Wednesday. For a team that still hopes to play deep into October.
This is not sustainable.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Devin Williams is broken right now. His signature changeup didn’t generate a single whiff on Monday. He gave up three balls in play over 100 mph, including the 101.6 mph homer to Pederson. His fastball velocity was up (averaging 95.3 mph), but the command and deception weren’t there. He threw just 45% of his pitches in the zone and didn’t record a single strikeout.
Tuesday was even worse. Williams gave up another 102.7 mph screamer, and again, the whiffs were nowhere to be found. Only three of his 29 pitches produced swings and misses. Rowdy Tellez crushed a changeup up in the zone for the game-winning hit. Once again, the closer was ineffective, and Boone didn’t blink.
Meanwhile, Bednar showed guts on Wednesday. He used all three pitches—fastball, curveball, and splitter—and induced weak contact with high spin and solid command. His fastball averaged 96.3 mph and topped out at 97.6. He induced six whiffs and threw 42 pitches across five outs. He got the save, and he may also be unavailable for the next two or three games as a result.
That’s the problem.
Boone has no plan. He over-relies on struggling arms, underuses hot hands, and refuses to make timely adjustments. This isn’t just a bad week—it’s a pattern.
The Yankees have championship aspirations, but their bullpen is a house of cards. They have traded for three closers in the past eight months—Williams in the offseason, Bednar, and Camilo Doval at the deadline—and neither has been deployed with any clear strategy.
If Boone keeps using Williams like it’s 2022 and running Bednar into the ground like it’s October, this team won’t survive September.
The Yankees need to reset their bullpen hierarchy and rethink their late-inning approach—immediately. Currently, they’re not just losing games. They’re losing control.
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